title: [Surgery of the cervical spine in rheumatoid arthritis. Diagnostics and indication].
abstract: The cervical spine is often affected in rheumatoid arthritis. Beside destructive changes, instabilities can occur, mainly in the upper cervical spine. Typical symptoms are missing so that routine x-ray examinations are needed to prevent severe consequences up to death. AP/lateral cervical spine x-rays and lateral functional x-rays are the standard diagnostic tool. Depending on the findings, further neurological examination and MRI must be initiated. Aim is the early recognition, respectively prevention of myelopathy. Therapy includes stage dependent conservative and surgical measures.
authors.affiliation: Orthopädische Universitätsklinik Ulm am RKU, Ulm. balkan.cakir@rku.de
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cakir
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Käfer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reichel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods